Metaphor
Definition
According to Webster's Dictionary, a metaphor is a figure of speech in which a word or phrase literally denoting one kind of object or idea is used in place of another to suggest a likeness or analogy between them. Not only are they used in the field of recreation and parks, but they are woven into the fabric of daily conversation.
Common Metaphors
Many Americans use metaphors on a regular basis. For instance, "bite the bullet" is an expression used to indicate the decision to do something difficult, such as write a paper on metaphors. Its application in history was literal. It came about before the development of anesthetics. Wounded soldiers would be given a bullet to bite while being operated on so as not to scream in pain. Even though you are not literally biting a bullet, it has taken on the meaning that one is going to suck it up (so to speak) and take the pain head on.
Another commonly used metaphor is "the big cheese". I use this when I want to inform everyone that the boss is nearby. I am not really talking about a big piece of cheese, but informing about a very important person. This metaphor was adopted from India and used by the British to mean something good, and then acquired by Americans to mean a VIP.
Another metaphor commonly used in conversation is "letting the cat out of the bag. Typically, people use this expression even when they have neither a cat nor a bag. It has grown to mean that you are giving away a secret. The phrase was used historically as a country-folk deception to substitute a cat for a suckling pig in a bag for sale at market. If the bag was opened the trick was revealed. As these metaphors are used in daily conversation, others are used in specific fields.
Metaphors in a disciplinary field
Leaders in the recreation and park industry are now starting to familiarize themselves with terminology like "LAP," "The Edge" and "Purple Recreation" which are becoming very recognizable metaphors in the field. "LAP" in this case does not mean part of a person, but a metaphoric acronym that stands for Local Access Proposal. Just as Java is a programming language and an environment for programming language, LAP is designed to be an integrator for many different domains of language and processes that inhibit synergy within the public and volunteer sectors.
The second metaphor is "EDGE. This is not the sharp side of a knife. It is another acronym that stands for experientially designed group effort. EDGE strives to be the premier leadership and personal effectiveness model. In some circles, EDGE is considered to be the experiential learning program that responds best to a pressing need in todays unpredictable world to the need for effective leaders in all professions and organizations.
The last is a term used by recreation leaders: " Purple Recreation." This does not mean that the activity looks purple to the naked eye. Instead, this term is used to describe non-productive activity such as drinking, graffiti, drugs and gambling.
Conclusion
Recreation and Park managers use metaphors to leaven what can sometimes be rather dull technical language. Certain metaphors, particularly the anagrams, are used not only to color the language, but also are used as mnemonic devices. If the issue before us is the continuation of the use of figurative language in specialized fields, the response is obvious. Eliminating the use of metaphors would not only make the language less interesting, it would make it less understandable.